Recently, according to the decision of the highest court in the province of Quebec, Canada, the Canadian man Jean Laplace for improper use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the court for self-defense, was sentenced to a fine of 5,000 guanches (approximately RMB 250,000).
According to reports, La Prade was sued in court in 2021 over a trade dispute, and the buyer claimed that errors in the contract led him to buy a plane at a higher price. In his defense, Laplade submitted several pieces of information forged by AI to the court, including "eight non-existent citations of legal articles, unmade judgments, aimless citations and inconsistent conclusions."
In 2023, the court issued a warning to the legal community that information generated using AI must be “under strict human control.”
In his ruling on the case, Judge Luke Morin of the High Court of Quebec said: “Laprad attempted to mislead plaintiffs and the court by submitting false clauses, which is a serious violation of court proceedings. Submitting (evidence and defence material) is a serious matter and should never be disregarded.”
In response, Laprade apologized, admitting that the material he submitted "may not be perfect" but stressed that without AI, he could not defend it.
Judge Morin also said that the 74-year-old defendant did face great challenges in defending himself without the assistance of a lawyer: "Although the court understands LaPrade's intention to use AI to defend himself, his behavior is still very undesirable. He must bear the consequences of relying on AI defense alone."
At the same time, Judge Morin also acknowledged the powerful influence of artificial intelligence in his ruling: "Artificial intelligence has been integrated into the defense process, which is an irreversible social trend, and our judicial system must face this change head-on." New technologies bring both opportunities and challenges. Morin pointed out that any technical means that helps citizens understand the law should be welcomed and regulated, rather than banned or stigmatized.
Red Star journalist.